Page:The Gypsy Lad of Roumania (1914).djvu/19



HERE came a time when the faces of men and women were troubled. Even the boys and girls gathered in anxious groups. Prince Stephen had sent messengers, commanding all the men to gather into an army to repel a great invasion of the Turks. Peter had heard much of Prince Stephen before this, and the brave young ruler had become the boy’s hero. When he went to the top of the high hill beyond the pasture, he could see the turrets of Prince Stephen’s great fortified castle.

Fontanus, as a man of importance, was made captain of his village. On these days the men came from the fields early, and after supper, all the village gathered while the men and boys drilled. They practiced shooting with bows and arrows, charged imaginary enemies and marched in ordered ranks. Stephen, a good soldier himself, understood the value of drilling, and had instructed his captains what to do.

Peter would stand with the women and children watching this inspiring sight. How he wished he might drill with them! There were boys in the ranks only a year older than he. But they were tall, muscular fellows, looking several years older than they were. And Peter was small of stature. So he said nothing of his longings. He didn’t want Justus to laugh at him. Justus teased